With increased competition, broadband service providers are focusing on customer satisfaction and the role of value-added services – including technical support – to improve retention and grow revenues. Parks Associates has identified connected home applications and premium technical support as among the most important offerings in accomplishing these business-critical goals.

This presentation covers the following topics:

• The role of the residential gateway in enhancing customer satisfaction and value-added services
• Key technology trends in service provisioning and management
• Consumer demand for broadband-provided technical support offerings
• Forecasts for residential gateways and technical support value-added service offerings

LUNCH

3D TV advocates are moving quickly to bring this technology to market, despite lingering skepticism of its mainstream viability. Several 3D services have launched in Europe and the U.S. (from industry heavyweights such as Sky, DirecTV, Comcast, and ESPN), and CE manufacturers are starting to deploy 3D-ready models at retail.

This presentation covers the following topics:

• Challenges and opportunities for content creators and service providers
• The steps in content creation and delivery
• Implications for CE manufacturers
• Consumer interest and attitudes regarding 3D in the home

Digital television services are becoming increasingly interactive and unicast, modeled around consumers’ desire for personalization and flexibility in their home entertainment. What opportunities do television operators have to deliver enhancements to multichannel video lineups? How can they leverage online video as an opportunity instead of a threat? This presentation focuses on key aspects of next-generation video services, including interactive services, on-demand content, the evolution of the program guide, and multiscreen content availability.

This presentation covers the following topics:

• Past and projected growth of pay-TV services
• Consumer demand for interactive television services
• Overview of key technology players in interactive television, on-demand content, and multiscreen content delivery
• An overview of the opportunities in interactive and targeted advertising

The market for “connected TV” products includes not only Web-enabled televisions, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes but also “DIY” solutions such as game consoles and PC-to-TV connections. Regardless of their origin, Web-enabled CE devices are driving significant changes to the way in which consumers acquire entertainment content and other services and the business models pursued by consumer electronics companies, content providers, and technology developers.

This presentation covers the following topics:

• Growth of connected CE
• Current use of connected CE platforms and consumer demand for future features
• Defining the key applications for Web-enabled CE
• Key technology trends in the design of connected TV solutions
• Global forecasts for the growth of connected CE